White-spotted Munia

Very large wren restricted to coastal plain of Chiapas and adjacent Guatemala. Favors open and semiopen areas with hedges, scattered large trees, stone walls, and thickets; often in and around villages and in gardens of small farms. Forages from the ground to the canopy of palm trees, mainly at low to middle levels. Occurs alongside somewhat smaller, but rather similar rufous-backed form of Rufous-naped Wren. Note Giant’s plain rufous back and wings and rufous tail (Rufous-naped Wren has boldly barred wings andblackish tail). Despite large size, can be elusive, like all wrens.

A drab flycatcher of lowland forest, edge, and scrub. Longish-billed with a rufous tinge to entire upperparts. Pale center to the throat, and gray chest blending to whitish belly and base to the undertail. Singles and pairs inhabit understory, often joining mixed-species flocks. Can be separated from the smaller Sumba Brown and Sumba Flycatchers by the entirely dark bill, the lack of rufous sides, and the overall darker appearance. Sings a thrush-like song with repeated “too-wee-woo” phrases.

A large, brownish lapwing endowed with yellow wattles that have distinctive fleshy red bases. The juvenile has smaller wattles. Pairs or small groups prefer marshes and wet grasslands, as well as the flooded edges of lakes, pans, and seeps. Also be found in dry savanna, cropped and burnt grasslands, or cultivated fields. It attracts attention to itself with a loud “peep-peep-peep” call. White-crowned Lapwing is similar but is smaller, has a white belly, and lacks the red bases to the wattles.